WINTER MEET STATS: 323-80-57-44 / $516.80 (-$129.20) BEST BETS: 23-10-4-2 / $34.40 (-$11.60) SPOT PLAYS: 22-8-5-4 / $61.60 (+$17.60) BEST BET: OAKWOOD ARDAN IR (10th) SPOT PLAY: A LITTLE KICK (1st) Race 1: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69) or less - Pick 5 (3) A LITTLE KICK dealt with stretch traffic and got clear too late last time. He’s back at the TM 68 level this week where he’s beaten many of these before and picked up consecutive victories. (7) MOONWARDS HANOVER is coming off an amateur win and now Bartlett joins the team. 14-year-old will be gunning off the gate and has a big shot. (6) SERGEANT WALT and (1) THE BIG RAGOO have both won recently in this class; Pick 5 players. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less Series (2) SWIFTY LAZAR tried to fire out last week but wasn’t quick enough as he faced the best of this mini-series. Things shook out differently as none of the top three in those races is signed on and the horse to his inside lacks any early speed. Bongiorno is also back in the bike. (3) ROJAN’S WAY is very sharp, coming off a win and picking up a catch-driver for a hot barn; one to beat. (8) LINCOLN BOULEVARD improved with Gingras in the bike; can get a small exotics slice. Race 3: Non-winners $2,500 (NW L2 $3,000) in last 5 - Pick 8 w/carryover (3) POMPEO HANOVER caught a pretty nice field over at Philly and Beyer simply couldn’t hustle him out of the gate fast enough to gain valuable position. He returns to The Big M now in a lower class and reunites with Warren. Could be value off recent lines. (9) MAD RIVER wasn’t bad to be fourth in his first start since October. He can definitely move forward off that mile. (1) ALWAYS B GIBBY isn’t one of my favorite horses but he does add Dunn and certainly is capable in this spot. (4) COMPENSATE ME gets class relief. He’s dangerous but also prone to mistakes. Race 4: Non-winners $5,000 (NW L2 $5,500) in last 5 (1) MAMBA is a fresh online purchase for $39,000 and moves from a barn sporting a 1-for-35 record at the meet to 7-for-51. He also gets a driver upgrade to McCarthy. Improvement is certainly expected and the price could remain reasonable with (7) MOMAS SON BYRNE dropping in class for the high percentage Engblom outfit. (3) PACK A PUNCH lands an inside post this week and could take an early shot at the front and sit a close-up trip. Race 5: Trackmaster 80.5 (NW L2 82.75) or less (6) HUNGRYHUNGRY HIPPO has good form as he exits the amateur ranks and picks up a top pilot in Bartlett. Let’s give him the narrow call in a tight-knit field. (2) GOOD DEAL improved as expected with the better post last time. He should be in another decent spot to succeed and it is reasonable to expect improvement as he works his way back from a long time on the sidelines. (3) LOVENBURY has moved up the claiming ladder from $7,500 when last here to $30,000 last week at Pocono. Connections smartly bring him here since he sneaks in just under the TM condition. (9) HALF PAST MIDNIGHT hasn’t turned in a bad race yet this year. He keeps moving up and racing well; hard to ignore the success. Race 6: $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4 (2) ALABAMAJAMMA went an interesting trip last time as he aborted a leave, took back to last only to immediately come to the rim and land a first-over journey. Things should work out much better from the inside slot and perhaps he can work out a pocket behind the speedy BB Lucky Boy. (8) GALLIE GETAWAY is in great form and versatile enough to win from on or off the pace. What trip will he get tonight? (6) BB LUCKY BOY will be firing to the front as usual and take the field as far as he can. Lately he’s been settling for second and third way too much to love him in the top spot. Race 7: Non-winners $10,500 (NW L2 $12,500) in last 5 or 8 (NW L2 10) life/TM 86 (NW L2 90) or less (4) AMERICAN SON sat behind a gapper and made a very impressive move to win his last qualifier going away. Four-year-old displayed some talent last year and this barn tends to fire well with horses returning from layoffs (10-3-1-3 since 1/1/25). (6) NUCLEAR takes a major step down in class in terms of the competition he faces. I expect we’ll see a big mile if he has one in the tank. (3) BUILD THE WALL isn’t the best horse in the field but he’s sharp and rarely puts in a bad effort. Race 8: $40,000-$60,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 6 (6) TYPHOON BANNER N lands inside of his biggest competitors and that means he’ll be able to fire to the front without too much opposition. At worst he should land in the pocket and that projects as a winning trip for him. (7) SOUTHWIND GENDRY just kept coming last week as he showed off his class. I’m not sure he is the horse he once was but there is still a solid engine inside. (8) ROCKIN JUKEBOX has early speed and form. It is hard to completely ignore him but I prefer the top two slightly more. (4) WATER SPORTS TEEN owns plenty of form and wouldn’t be a shock on the win end. Race 9: Trackmaster 83.5 (NW L2 85.80) or less (4) INVICTUS wasn’t bad uncovered last time as he tried to close into a good wind through the stretch. The price should improve this week on a live horse in a pretty evenly-matched field. (3) ROCKNROLL GOLD could have a tactical edge if the couple of potential leavers on the outside of the gate elect to play it more conservatively. (8) STOP THE SHOOTIN’ dealt with traffic trouble last time but draws outside now. (2) BOOKIE J was fine in his qualifier. Is he ready to take on older foes to start his season? At the very least we can expect a more conservative steer. Race 10: Non-winners $15,000 (NW L2 $16,676) in last 5 or 10 (NW L2 11) races or $100,000 life/TM 89.01 (NW L2 92.94) or less - $50K GTD Pick 4 (1) OAKWOOD ARDAN IR was given no chance to succeed despite ample opportunity in his first start of 2026. Interestingly we get a new driver now – it isn’t lost on me that Tetrick picked off a Toscano horse. Facing a slightly softer field, I’ll be surprised if we don’t get a big effort. (3) WISH YOU WELL finished ahead of the top pick last time and you have to like that he has the early speed to make his own trip. (8) CAPTAIN CRUSADER A makes starts in consecutive weeks for the first time in 2026. I wonder if he’ll be put in play. (7) SWINGTOWN did nothing wrong in winning his return qualifier but I fear we will get a more conservative effort to start his campaign. Race 11: Trackmaster 71 (NW L2 73) or less (1) LYLEGROUND has done very well at this TM71 level and catches a very soft group. (2) BIG BAD BILL has come away slowly and gotten into undesirable spots of late. If he can’t work out a better trip from this placement, a class drop may be his only hope. (9) STONE COLD SAVAGE is up in class but has some early speed and form. Race 12: $10,000 Claiming (5) GOOD ROCKIN has been taking care of business versus claimers at this level the last two weeks and there is no reason to believe that won’t continue tonight. (4) BORN TO DANCE drops below the level of the claim after a four week absence with a scratched-sick line in between. I’m expecting he’ll return ready for a good mile. (1) CAMCO LUCAS couldn’t handle the class jump last time when racing from off the pace. He could be closer to the engine from post one. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: Trackmaster 74.5 (NW L2 76.5) or less Series (7) GALANTE A and (3) TRICKY CAPTAIN N finished one-two last week in this race and I see no reason why they won’t be controlling the action and producing a similar result again. (5) XPERT is a newcomer to the series and one that will need a good showing to make the final. I can’t fault him for the subpar finish after a long trip in his 4-year-old debut. Race 14: Trackmaster 68 (NW L4 69) or less (7) SAND SNIPER has been finishing with a bit of late life recently while many of these are simply spent in the stretch. In a field without form and lacking in talent, I’ll take a shot here at a price. (2) BETTING MARKER should be heading to the front and he’s probably the one to beat. That said, it’s been a long time between winner’s circle photos. (8) HUNGRY FOR PROFITS could show more in his second start back from winter break. As a 4-year-old there is certainly room for improvement.